Is Coffee Good for Running? You Betcha
Coffee isn’t always synonymous with physical activity, but recent studies have found a connection between a pre-workout cup of coffee and increased agility. Especially when you’re running to make your next cup.
Coffee adds to the recommended daily intake (RDI) for liquids, supplies the body with vital antioxidants, and boosts performance. To get the most out of a cup of joe, timing and the ultimate quality of beans are everything.
Drinking coffee contributes to one’s Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for liquids
So we know what you’re thinking. “Isn’t coffee a diuretic that will just dehydrate me?”
Nope — not according to research.
Research conducted by the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism set out to determine the effects of coffee consumption on fluid balance and urine output in male athletes.
Participants were asked to consume four beverages that contained single components such as caffeine, sodium, and sugar. The study found no significant loss of urination or change in fluid balance as a result of caffeine consumption.
And the water used for brewing coffee doesn’t go away — it’s ingested and added to one’s daily RDI. This can also be said of milk and alternative milk products found in lattes, cortados, and the like, which all contain a significant amount of water.
In summary? Sip on something strong before training roughly forty minutes before running.
Be Careful What You Put in Your Body
As an athlete, you’re careful about what you put in your body. So beware when buying coffee.
Two types of coffee beans are commonly used, Robusta and Arabica.
Robusta is in products like Deathwish Coffee that market themselves as “The World’s Strongest Coffee.” But the ugly truth about Robusta is that they’re cheaper, lower-quality beans that often come from farms that take less care to grow them.
Although they have a bit less caffeine, Arabica are the higher-quality of the two. Not to mention they taste way better.
We exclusively currently use Arabica, by the way.
To find a coffee that is higher in quality, look for origins, farm, and variety. Avoid coffees that are packaged in cans or tins. Look for bags that contain one-way valves that allow the beans to degas without allowing oxygen to enter the bag. Beans that are exposed to oxygen become stale which leads to a compromise in taste.
The coffee bag should list a roasting date rather than a sell by date. Sell by dates are a way to lengthen shelf life. To increase the likelihood of purchasing fresh beans, check for a roasting date that is closest to the day of purchase.
Race Day – Our Certified Organic Blend Made for Runners
Or just save yourself the trouble and grab our Race Day Signature Blend.
It’s Fair Trade Organic, so you know what you’re putting in your body, and it’s exclusively light-roasted for optimal caffeine content. That’s right — the lighter the roast, the higher the caffeine.
We also roast all of our coffees within 72 hours of them arriving at your doorstep, so you always know you’re getting the freshest coffee.
